Bone can be demineralized (removing all of the mineral phase hydroxyapatite) or deproteinated (removing all the biopolymer phase, collagen). The synergistic effect of the mineral/biopolymer can be determined through studies of each component.

Luminescent materials fluoresce under activation of an external energy source such as an electron beam, photons or an electric field. These materials have applications in display devices (flat panel displays and CRTs), in solid state lighting (white-emitting LEDs) and as remote temperature sensors (thermographic phosphors). Our research on luminescent materials is currently in two directions:

Luminescent phosphors from combustion synthesis; under 360nm excitation. The red emitter is Y2O3 activated with Eu3+, 4 at.%. The green emitter is Y3Al5O12, commonly known as YAG, activated with Tb3+. The blue powder is Y2SiO5 activated with 0.0075 at.% Ce3+.

Biomimetic Materials by Freeze Casting

The microstructure in this image was created by freeze casting TiO2 powders, using ice as a template to control the architectural morphology of the scaffold. The porous microchannels are ~10µm wide. The microstructures and mechanical behavior of freeze-cast scaffolds mimic that of natural bone and nacre.

Inspired by the spiraling nature of the narwhal tusk, the spiral pattern in this image was created by the alignment of magnetic nanoparticles to a rotating magnetic field in a cylindrical freeze-cast scaffold composed of TiO2 and Fe3O4. The cylindrical scaffold is ~20mm in diameter.

Seahorses get their exceptional flexibility from the structure of their bony plates, which function as a flexible subdermal armor. The seahorse skeleton is composed of several bony plates arranged in overlapping, articulating rings along the length of the fish. The bony plated armor of seahorses may serve as inspiration for future biomimetic technologies such as flexible, prehensile robotics.